Played in every Pro Tour for almost nine years, with Top 8 appearances every step along the way...Won the second Duelist Invitational, creating Avalanche Riders...Early reputation as a Limited specialist with two Top 8s...Later posted multiple Top 8s at Constructed events...Formed Your Move Games with Rob Dougherty and Dave Humpherys, a powerful and long-standing team.

Class of: 2005

Hometown: Killingworth, CT, USA

Debut: Pro Tour-New York 1996

Career winnings: $147,897

Lifetime Pro Points: 320

Of the three Your Move Games stalwarts on the first ballot, Darwin Kastle was the only one to get elected by the Selection Committee. When you look at the resume Darwin has amassed, it is painfully obvious why he is the first member of YMG to stride into the Hall. Darwin is third on the all-time list with eight Pro Tour Top 8s, has achieved double-digit Grand Prix Top 8s (including nine in North America at a time when many of the other players in that class were doing so against an at-the-time weaker Asian Grand Prix field), won the second Invitational, and was one of the first players to put forth the notion of playing Magic professionally.

Darwin was a veteran player of the Northeastern U.S. tournament scene long before the Pro Tour came to New York. He played in that first event courtesy of a nimble dialing finger but finished a mere 65th. He found his way to Sunday in the very next stop, making his first of eight Top 8s at Pro Tour-Los Angeles. That event's top three players all hailed from New England, and Kastle lost to local nemesis Shawn "Hammer" Regnier in the semifinals.

Darwin Kastle was one of the first players to earn a living by playing Magic.

The next trip to the Sunday stage brought Darwin to the finals of Pro Tour-Atlanta where he fell to Frank Adler. His success in back-to-back Limited Pro Tours handed him the label as the game's first Limited specialist – something that never seems to sit well with anyone who wears that title. Darwin quickly put an end to the idea that he could not do well at Constructed events with a Top 4 finish at Paris in 1997, the first Pro Tour held outside of the United States – recognition that could have come sooner, if not for a misstep in Texas.

"I became labeled as a 'Limited' specialist after finishing second at the one and only Sealed tour in Atlanta," explained Kastle. "Pro Tour-Paris was one of my more successful attempts at a rogue deck as I dismissed doubts that I could succeed at Constructed with a third-place finish. Frankly, in the Northeast I was known as a Type 1 player and only a foolish intentional draw with Mark Justice (whom I was in undue awe of) kept me out of the Top 8 of the Type 1 Pro Tour in Dallas."

After three Pro Tour Top 8s over the first two seasons, Darwin hit a mini-slump without any more appearances over the next two seasons. He did win a Magic Invitational – then known as The Duelist Invitational – and as his reward he created the always popular Avalanche Riders.

Darwin returned to the Sunday stage during the first event of the 1999-00 season as a member of Team Your Move Games. After defeating Jon Finkel and his Antarctica teammates in the semifinals, Darwin would go onto square off with Kurt Burgner of Game Empire (which also included fellow Hall of Famer Alan Comer) in the finals. YMG's victory in Washington marked Darwin's best finish on the Pro Tour and marked one of the most satisfying moments in his career, after three second- and third-place finishes kept him from glory.

"The three biggest highlights of my career were winning PT-DC, winning the Invitational in Rio, and winning GP-Manchester," he said. "This is because as awesome as a Top 3 in a PT is, you can only feel the purity of victory by finishing in first place. It was important to prove that I didn't have any psychological barriers to finishing first."

While Darwin won a Limited Pro Tour and started his career with back-to-back Limited Top 8s, he would close it with a display of Constructed prowess. After D.C., he reached the Top 8 of one more Limited Pro Tour – the following Pro Tour stop in London – before rattling off three more Top 8s in Constructed formats.

After an Extended Top 8 in New Orleans the season previous, Darwin was part of the YMG juggernaut that took down the top three spots at Pro Tour-Houston with three different Extended decks. Two events later, Darwin appeared in the Top 8 of Venice piloting dragons in the tribal-themed Onslaught Block Constructed Pro Tour.

Darwin has been working as game designer since he stopped playing on the Pro Tour. His induction has special meaning for him, as he has found himself looking back at his career and trying to put it into the context of his life.

Darwin Kastle, circa 2005,

"I look around me at other people my age with families, houses, and advanced careers," he said. "Then I wonder if I wasted prime years of my life pursuing a passion that was ultimately a distraction? This gives me something more tangible to show that my efforts over many years had meaning and are remembered. With the way things are going for me, perhaps I have been advancing my career all these years."

The induction and attendant Level 3 benefits will likely inspire Darwin to pursue high-level Magic once again, and don't be surprised if Venice is the not the last entry on Kastle's resume.

"Count on it," was Darwin's response when asked if he would indulge in his lifetime invitations. "It may take awhile before I have another impressive finish, but if you are patient, you can count on that too."

It should come as no surprise that Darwin took an opportunity to single out several players from various points in Your Move Games history when asked about who he would like to thank for his Pro Tour career. "Dave Humpherys, Rob Dougherty, Michelle Bush, Danny Mandel, and Brad Mennell. Especially Dave," he said.

The consistency that marked Darwin's career is an impressive sight, recording an amazing 48 consecutive Pro Tours and Worlds attended – from the very first to Pro Tour-Kobe 2004. With those appearances came results that put him in rare territory among Magic players, cementing Darwin Kastle's place in Magic history.

By Format

Format

W

L

D

BYE

Matches

Win %

Limited

200

142

29

55

426

53.91%

Constructed

249

155

47

36

487

55.21%

Total

449

297

76

91

913

54.62%

By Event Type

Event

W

L

D

BYE

Matches

Win %

Worlds

78

58

9

0

145

53.79%

Pro Tour

198

129

32

0

359

55.15%

Nationals

37

23

0

0

60

61.67%

Grand Prix

136

87

35

91

349

52.71%

Total

449

297

76

91

913

54.62%

By Event

Event

Date

Finish

W

L

D

BYE

Matches

Win %

Pro Tour-New York

2/16/1996

65

4

3

0

-

Pro Tour-Los Angeles

5/5/1996

3

9

3

0

-

Pro Tour-Columbus

7/6/1996

65

3

2

1

-

1996 World Championships

8/18/1996

30

6

7

0

-

1995-96 Season

22

15

1

0

38

57.89%

Pro Tour-Atlanta

9/13/1996

2

7

1

1

-

Pro Tour-Dallas-Type I

11/22/1996

192

4

1

2

-

Pro Tour-Dallas-Type II Masters

11/23/1996

n/a

2

5

0

-

Pro Tour-Los Angeles

2/28/1997

81

3

2

1

-

Pro Tour-Paris

4/11/1997

3

9

2

3

-

Pro Tour-New York

5/30/1997

88

3

2

1

-

1997 World Championships

8/15/1997

82

9

9

3

-

1996-97 Season

37

22

11

0

70

52.86%

Pro Tour-Chicago

10/10/1997

113

4

3

0

-

Pro Tour-Mainz

12/5/1997

192

2

3

1

-

Pro Tour-Los Angeles

3/6/1998

25

9

4

1

-

Grand Prix-Atlanta

3/28/1998

n/a

0

3

0

3

Pro Tour-New York

4/17/1998

228

2

4

1

-

Grand Prix-Indianapolis

6/27/1998

6

7

3

1

3

1998 World Championships

8/15/1998

17

13

6

2

-

1997-98 Season

37

26

6

6

75

53.62%

Grand Prix-Boston

9/5/1998

5

7

3

1

3

Pro Tour-Chicago

9/25/1998

9

10

3

1

-

Grand Prix-Texas

10/11/1998

2

8

1

4

3

GP Birmingham

10/17/1998

n/a

7

1

2

3

Pro Tour-Rome

11/13/1998

15

9

2

3

-

Grand Prix-San Francisco

1/23/1999

24

5

4

0

4

Pro Tour-Los Angeles

2/26/1999

316

1

5

0

-

Grand Prix-Kansas City

3/27/1999

n/a

4

3

2

-

Pro Tour-New York

4/30/1999

198

3

4

0

-

Grand Prix-Washington D.C.

6/18/1999

16

6

2

2

3

1999 U.S. Nationals

7/3/1999

19

8

4

0

-

1999 World Championships

8/13/1999

58

10

8

0

-

1998-99 Season

78

40

15

16

149

58.65%

Pro Tour-Washington D.C. (Team)

9/5/1999

1

-

Pro Tour-London

10/15/1999

8

10

3

2

-

Grand Prix-San Diego

11/20/1999

5

7

3

1

3

Pro Tour-Chicago

12/3/1999

42

8

4

2

-

Grand Prix-Seattle

1/15/2000

15

6

3

1

3

Pro Tour-Los Angeles

2/4/2000

10

10

3

1

-

Grand Prix-Philadelphia

2/19/2000

14

7

3

1

3

Pro Tour-New York

4/14/2000

121

4

3

0

-

2000 U.S. Nationals

6/10/2000

29

7

5

0

-

2000 World Championships

8/4/2000

29

11

5

2

-

1999-2000 Season

70

32

10

9

121

62.50%

Pro Tour-New York (Team)

10/1/2000

11

-

Grand Prix-Manchester

10/7/2000

1

10

2

1

3

Grand Prix-Dallas

10/28/2000

69

2

2

0

3

Pro Tour-Chicago

12/1/2000

81

6

6

2

-

Grand Prix-New Orleans

1/6/2001

52

3

5

1

4

Grand Prix-Amsterdam

1/13/2001

112

2

2

1

3

Pro Tour-Los Angeles

2/2/2001

250

2

4

0

-

Grand Prix-Valencia

2/10/2001

22

6

4

0

3

Grand Prix-Boston

2/24/2001

15

7

3

1

3

Pro Tour-Tokyo

3/16/2001

109

6

8

0

-

Grand Prix-Detroit

3/31/2001

125

2

3

0

3

Pro Tour-Barcelona

5/4/2001

28

9

3

2

-

2001 U.S. Nationals

6/2/2001

24

8

4

0

-

2001 World Championships

8/10/2001

71

10

7

1

-

2000-01 Season

73

53

9

22

157

54.07%

Grand Prix-Denver

8/18/2001

3

7

1

4

3

Pro Tour-New York (Team)

9/9/2001

125

-

Grand Prix-Minneapolis

9/29/2001

26

5

2

3

3

Grand Prix-Montreal

10/13/2001

135

0

3

0

3

Pro Tour-New Orleans

11/2/2001

7

10

3

2

-

Grand Prix-Las Vegas

12/8/2001

144

1

2

0

3

Pro Tour-San Diego

1/11/2002

174

3

3

1

-

Grand Prix-Tampa

2/23/2002

38

5

4

1

3

Pro Tour-Osaka

3/15/2002

51

8

6

0

-

Pro Tour-Nice

5/3/2002

210

3

4

0

-

2002 U.S. Nationals

6/1/2002

22

8

4

0

-

2002 World Championships

8/16/2002

93

9

8

1

-

2001-02 Season

59

40

12

15

126

53.15%

Grand Prix-Cleveland

9/7/2002

26

6 3 2 3

Pro Tour-Boston (Team)

9/29/2002

84

-

Grand Prix-Philadelphia

10/26/2002

119

2

3

0

3

Pro Tour-Houston

11/8/2002

3

12

4

0

-

Grand Prix-New Orleans

1/4/2003

74

2

2

1

3

Pro Tour-Chicago

1/17/2003

334

1

4

0

-

Grand Prix-Boston

2/22/2003

188

1

2

1

3

Pro Tour-Venice

3/21/2003

6

10

2

3

-

Pro Tour-Yokohama

5/9/2003

76

6

7

1

-

2003 U.S. Nationals

6/29/2003

77

6

6

0

-

2003 World Championships

8/8/2003

91

10

8

0

-

2002-03 Season

56

41

8

12

117

53.33%

Pro Tour-Boston (Team)

9/14/2003

53

-

Grand Prix-Kansas City

10/18/2003

222

0

1

2

3

Pro Tour-New Orleans

10/31/2003

210

3

5

0

-

Grand Prix-Anaheim

12/13/2003

146

0

3

1

3

Pro Tour-Amsterdam

1/16/2004

306

1

4

0

-

Pro Tour-Kobe

2/27/2004

183

2

4

0

-

Grand Prix-Columbus

3/27/2004

106

6

5

1

2

Pro Tour-Seattle (Team)

7/11/2004

52

-

Grand Prix-New Jersey

8/14/2004

161

4

3

0

2

Grand Prix-Boston

2/5/2005

500

1

3

0

1

2003-04 Season

17

28

4

11

60

34.69%

After kicking off his career with a 65th-place finish at the very first Pro Tour, Darwin went on to play in 48 consecutive Pro Tour events.

Pro Tour Los Angeles 1996 was the first Limited Pro Tour event. Darwin reached the semifinals against eventual winner Shawn "Hammer" Regnier and began earning his reputation as the game's first Limited specialist.

RECORD VS. CLASS OF 2005

W

L

D

vs. Jon Finkel

1

3

0

vs. Tommi Hovi

4

0

0

vs. Alan Comer

1

1

1

vs. Olle Råde

0

0

0

Total

6

4

1

Darwin reached the finals in the very next Limited Pro Tour. Pro Tour Atlanta was a singularly unique event in Pro Tour history as it was the Mirage Prerelease tournament. None of the players had ever seen a Mirage card before round one of the tournament.

Darwin was long considered one of the top Vintage players on the East Coast prior to the Pro Tour. He finished 10th at the only Vintage Pro Tour event in Dallas 1997.

Darwin finally posted a Constructed Top 8 in Paris 1997 when he finished third with his red-blue beatdown deck in a field full of Cadaverous Bloom combo players.

Darwin finished 25th at Pro Tour Los Angeles 1998 with his Living Death deck. Darwin's build also propelled Adam Katz into the Top 8 of that event and was likely the best deck in that tournament.

Avalanche Riders was the result of Darwin's Duelist Invitational win in 1998. Darwin returned to his Limited ways during the 99-00 season. He kicked off the year with a win alongside Dave Humpherys and Rob Dougherty as team YMG at the first team Pro Tour in Washington, D.C. Darwin had to beat Jon Finkel heads up in the semifinals for his team to advance and for his first and only Pro Tour title.

Darwin avoided drafting green all weekend long at Pro Tour London 1099-00 and it carried him through to the Top 8 of that Urza's Saga Block Limited Pro Tour.

Darwin returned to the Top 8 stage in New Orleans 2001 when he finished seventh with YMG Constructed staple Reanimator deck which featured Zombie Infestation and could lock out a non-black opponent with Contamination.

Darwin Rocked his way into the Top 4 of Pro Tour New Orleans 2002 with the popular green-black deck. Your Move Games dominated that tournament with three players and three decks in the Top 8 – the only players YMG lost to were wearing also wearing YMG shirts in that Extended Top 8.

Darwin's eight Pro Tour Top 8s place him third in that category behind only Jon Finkel and Kai Budde. As of 2005, the next closest player in the standings needs two more Top 8s just to tie him.

Darwin has double-digit totals for Grand Prix Top 8s with 11 such finishes. He has one individual and one team trophy on his mantle. He drafted an ideal Crosis-colored Invasion deck at a star-studded table in Manchester to pick up his individual honor. It was the first event after Darwin finally resolved to take the plunge and become a professional Magic player.

Listed below are the decklists from each of Kastle's Pro Tour Top 8 appearances.